Faltering France visit buoyant Israel tomorrow in a World Cup group 4 qualifier that could have enormous ramifications for the two nations at opposite ends of the European pecking order.
France, the 1998 world and 2000 European champions have looked in a sorry state during their Group Four campaign, which began with an inauspicious goalless home draw with the Israelis last September.
Two more goalless Paris draws against Ireland and Switzerland and 2-0 away wins over the Faroe Islands and Cyprus have left France on nine points from five games, along with Israel and Ireland.
Switzerland are also still in the hunt on six with a game in hand and will expect to beat Cyprus in Zurich tomorrow.
France have yet to concede a goal but, having scored just four, it is hardly a record to be proud of for a team blessed with such talented players.
With difficult away matches in Ireland and Switzerland still to come, the team sitting behind only Brazil in the FIFA world rankings are by no means guaranteed a place in the 2006 finals.
France dominated against the Swiss on Saturday but were let down by woeful finishing, particularly by David Trezeguet, who missed a sitter late on.
We played out yet another draw. We are conscious of our situation. The match in Israel will be vital. We must do all we can to win. The situation is delicate but there is quality in the France side. In delicate moments, you have to be as positive as possible. I'm not worried. Motivated more like," Trezeguet said.
Defender Jean-Alain Boumsong was blunter in his assessment of what lay ahead for the France team.
He said: "It's important to go and get a result in Israel. It will be difficult but our objective is clear, to take the three points there."
France coach Raymond Domenech is not panicking yet but with the group so tight, Trezeguet says there is no room for error.
"Even with so many games remaining, the first top team to lose is dead," he said.
Domenech has kept faith with Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, whose goal-scoring presence would have been helpful in the game against the Swiss.
The coach has admitted that Henry was fit to play against Switzerland but was sidelined to avoid any risk of injury.
Domenech added: "There's no guarantee he will play on Wednesday. We'll see on Tuesday after the final training session."
Israel hold a special place in the memory of French soccer fans but it is one they will not want refreshed.
France were cruising towards qualification for the 1994 World Cup as they led Israel in their penultimate qualifier in Paris, only to concede two late goals to lose 3-2, Israel's only win of the campaign.
Needing a point to qualify, they then leaked another late goal to lose 2-1 Bulgaria and miss out on the finals.
Israel, whose only appearance in a major tournament came in the 1970 World Cup, remained in the hunt for their second with another last-minute goal on Saturday as substitute Abas Suan lashed in a 25-metre drive to earn a 1-1 home draw with Ireland.
Israeli coach Avraham Grant said his team could struggle against France so soon after playing Ireland.
"We are not used to such a level of pressure notably against such good teams," he said.
His views were echoed by Israel's fitness coach Avi Moyal, who said that players in Israel were not accustomed to playing twice a week, and certainly not like many of the French stars who regularly turn out for their clubs in the Champions League and the high-octane European premierships.
With Arik Benado and Omer Golan suspended for the clash after picking up their second yellow cards of the campaign, Grant is expected to bring in Klemi Saban in place of Benado, with Pini Balili replacing Golan up front.
Security has been ramped up around the Ramat Gan stadium in Tel Aviv, as it was for the Ireland match, with more than 1,000 security personnel and volunteers mobilised to oversee the game.
"We have deployed the maximum amount of forces to ensure utmost security," said Tel Aviv's police chief David Tsur.
